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being and doing

“You are a human being, not a human doing.”

This is a phrase that the pastor of the church I attend in Atlanta has said on multiple occasions. The first time I heard this, it instantly struck a chord with me. This phrase describes so well an internal struggle I’ve been facing.

For the longest time, I carried a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to prove to others, and myself, that I was smart, I was capable, I was worthy. However, as I continued to operate in a mindset of constantly trying to prove myself, that chip on my shoulder continued to grow and grow, until the weight of it became too much to bear. 

But my worth is not determined by what I can do. My worth is determined by who God says I am.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  –  Romans 8:14-16

For much of my life, I have been driven by fear: fear of what others thought about me, fear about what would happen if I tried and failed, fear that I wasn’t enough. Fear of everyone and just about every thing. But I am not called to live in fear. I have been adopted by the Most High King, and my status is etched into the palm of his hand: I am a child of God.

There was nothing I could ever do to earn this. I have been called worthy son by the perfect Love that casts out fear. 

I know this to be true, but I struggle to believe it completely on a daily basis. I think this is because I, like everyone who grew up in American culture, have been taught to believe a different narrative. Our worth, our status, and our identity is determined by what we can DO.

In my third month on the World Race, one of my contacts said something very profound, that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “Don’t be so focused on trying to do stuff for God that you forget to do things with God.” He then gave an analogy of how we are seen by the Father. He said that the Lord is like a good Father who is teaching his child his craft (carpentry for example). He is patient, and invites his child to help build with him. He is not concerned that it will take longer to build it, nor is his concern that the child will mess up along the way and he will have to clean up the mistakes. His primary concern, and his delight, is that he gets to spend time with his child. He loves teaching them, watching them learn and grow, and seeing them develop characteristics that make them more akin to himself. He is filled with joy by the fact that his child wants to participate in what he can show them, that they are taking interest in the things that he loves.

God just wants us to be where he is, and participate in what he is doing.

But there is a caveat, or so it would seem…

In James 1, it states, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

We cannot be just listeners of the Word of God, we have to do what it says.

But didn’t I just say that God just wants us to BE, not DO?

I propose that being with God facilitates doing his perfect will. As you grow in intimacy in your relationship with the Lord, the more your desires will align with his desires, and your character will resemble his character. Being a doer of the Word is a natural overflow of being with the Lord, where he has you.

I have come to learn all this during this season of transition I have been in since December. The Lord called me out of my job and led me to Greece to serve the refugees migrating to the island of Lesvos. I did not know for certain why he called me there, or what he had for me when I got there, but I knew I had to go.

While I was there, I didn’t do any of the things you might expect. I didn’t rescue any children from the water. I didn’t have anyone pray with me to give their life to Jesus. I didn’t save anyone. I didn’t fix the refugee crisis. So did I waste my time, resources, and energy to go there? Was it all for nothing? Why was I supposed to go?

I went to Greece because that is where I knew the Lord wanted me. I told God that I was tired of being angry and frustrated over the refugee crisis, and how the church especially was responding to it. So he told me to stop talking and go. He said to rein in my tongue and go look after widows and orphans. Take the opportunity to live out Matthew 25 and Isaiah 58. Go and be a doer of the Word. Trust that he would work through me to show the love of Christ to people, even if I couldn’t see it. It was the first step in obedience to his will, to bring his love, for his glory. 

He just wanted me to be there.

I didn’t have to do anything. But, like a good Father, God brought me in to participate in the wonderful things he was doing. It’s amazing how well he can love us as he calls us to love others.

So, on this Good Friday, I am going to take time and reflect on this love. The love of a perfect God who calls all those who believe his sons and daughters. The perfect God who died so that all of humanity could have the opportunity to experience salvation that brings perfect love. The perfect God whose light shines brightest in the darkest places. This is the love of Christ.

Christ’s love is perfect enough to cast out all your fear.

Christ’s love is present enough to be felt by Muslim refugees.

Christ’s love is powerful enough to cast out the evil and change the heart of the terrorist.

Thank you Jesus. Your love is incredible.